Interconnector Greece–Bulgaria
Location
CountryGreece
Bulgaria
General directionSouth–North
FromKomotini, Greece
Passes throughKardjali, Haskovo, Dimitrovgrad, Bulgaria
ToStara Zagora, Bulgaria
General information
TypeNatural gas
PartnersBulgarian Energy Holding
IGI Poseidon (DEPA & Edison S.p.A.)
OperatorICGB AD
Commissioned2022
Technical information
Length182 km (113 mi)
Maximum discharge3 billion cubic metres per annum (110×10^9 cu ft/a)
Diameter32 in (813 mm)
Websitewww.icgb.eu

Gas Interconnector Greece–Bulgaria is a natural gas pipeline from the Greek to the Bulgarian natural gas pipeline network.[1][2] It became operational on 1 October 2022.[3]

Route

On 14 July 2009, Bulgarian Energy Holding signed an agreement with DEPA and Edison S.p.A. on setting up a company to construct and operate the branch pipeline Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria with a capacity of one billion cubic meters of gas per year.[4] The pipeline will be 160 kilometres (99 mi) between Komotini and Stara Zagora in Bulgaria.[4]

The capacity of the pipeline is to be 3 to 5 billion cubic metres per annum (110 to 180 billion cubic feet per annum) with reverse flow capability. The connecting points are to be Komotini, Greece and Stara Zagora, Bulgaria. The length of the pipeline is about 150 kilometres (93 mi) in Bulgaria and 30 kilometres (19 mi) in Greece. The pipe diameter is 813 millimetres (32.0 in), with an estimated cost between 200 and 250 million Euro to construct.

Purpose

The project is in line with the joint EU strategy for market-based security of supply, which calls for bidirectional interconnection of national grids and specifically for the creation of a Southern Gas Corridor. Whereas the capacity of the gas interconnector project does not fully satisfy the capacity expected in the Southern Gas Corridor, it achieves diversification of sources of supply of natural gas to Bulgaria and helps the countries in the region get greater access to the global natural gas market;[5][6] Azerbaijani natural gas has started to pass through the interconnector.[7]

Project development

On 14 July 2009, a Memorandum of understanding was signed between Bulgarian Energy Holding EAD, Edison (Italy) and DEPA, which defines the principles for the development and realization of the project. In January 2011, a joint company "ICGB" AD was registered by the same partners that will construct, own and operate the pipeline. The project took off in 2017.[8] Construction works commenced in early 2020 and were completed in the third quarter of 2022.[5] The interconnector is fully operational since October 1.[3][9]

Usage

In 2023 ICGB held the first annual auction for the interconnector capacity, with 80% of the current 3bcm capacity reserved for the 2024 year.[10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Gas Interconnection Greece - Bulgaria (IGB) Archived 2014-02-02 at the Wayback Machine, Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism of the Republic of Bulgaria, retrieved 12-11-2012
  2. ↑ "Greece-Bulgaria gas pipeline to be ready by end of June". www.ekathimerini.com. Kathimerini. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Greece-Bulgaria pipeline starts operations to boost non-Russian gas flows". Reuters. 1 October 2022. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  4. 1 2 "Bulgaria, Greece agree to link pipelines for delivery of Azerbaijan gas". Trend News Agency. 2009-07-15. Retrieved 2010-10-23.
  5. 1 2 "New gas pipeline boosts Europe's bid to ease Russian supply". The Independent. 29 April 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  6. ↑ "Accelerating energy diversification in Central and Eastern Europe". IEA. 14 September 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  7. ↑ "Greece-Bulgaria interconnector: over 303 GWh transported in first days of operations - CEENERGYNEWS". ceenergynews.com. 2022-10-17. Retrieved 2022-10-23.
  8. ↑ https://ec.europa.eu/energy/sites/ener/files/documents/presentation_icgb_brussels_23-24_october.pdf
  9. ↑ "Gas interconnector Greece-Bulgaria to start commercial operation on October 1". Balkan Green Energy News. 29 September 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  10. ↑ "Bulgaria: Transported volume via IGB gas pipeline exceeded 15.5 million MWh in 2023". 9 January 2024.
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